Method and apparatus to facilitate handover

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for handing over a mobile node from a source access point to a target access point is provided herein. During operation the source access point will create handover messages on behalf of the mobile node. When the source access point detects that handover is taking place, the source access point will transmit the appropriate handover message to the mobile node&#39;s anchor node. Because the source access point may not have the necessary security credentials to create messages on behalf of the mobile node, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the messages are created by the mobile node and stored at the source access point until needed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No.11/275,998, METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE HANDOVER filed on 13 Mar.2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/690,728filed on 15 Jun. 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to communication networks havingmultiple potential points of presence for a given mobile node and moreparticularly to handing over of a mobile node amongst such points ofpresence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communication networks having multiple points of presence (sometimesreferred to as base stations or access points) are known. For example,multiple Layer 2 points of presence are available when a communicationnetwork has a plurality of wireless access points. As another example,multiple Layer 3 points of presence become available when acommunication network has a plurality of access routers as are alsoknown in the art.

In many cases such networks are designed to accommodate mobile nodesthat change their location from time to time (including during a presentcommunication session). As a result, a given mobile node can change itspoint of presence with respect to such a network. For example, a changewith respect to a Layer 2 point of presence will occur when the mobilenode moves between Layer 2 base stations or access points on a sameInternet Protocol (IP) subnet while a change with respect to a Layer 3point of presence (as well as with respect to a Layer 2 point ofpresence) will typically occur when the mobile node moves betweendifferent anchor nodes or when a mobile node moves between access pointsconnected to different subnets

As is known in the art, when an IP capable mobile node moves from onesubnet to another it needs to acquire a new topologically correctaddress. In a system employing a mobile internet protocol (MIP), themobile node sends its Care-of-Address (CoA) to its home agent (sometimesreferred to as a home anchor node) through the target subnet to enablethe home agent proxy for the mobile node and tunnel packets destined tomobile nodes home IP address to the current location, i.e. its CoA.

When moving between multiple points of presence, it is generally desiredto make such a move in the least amount of time possible to ensurecontinuous communication between the mobile node and its anchor node orhome agent. The messaging required to facilitate such a movement betweensubnets generally takes a longer period of time than is desired. Becauseof this, a need exists for a method and apparatus for handing over of amobile node amongst such points of presence that minimizes the amount oftime it takes to hand over the node.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system.

FIG. 2 is a more-detailed block diagram of a mobile node and accesspoint.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of an access point duringnode handover.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of an access point duringnode handover.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing operation of a mobile node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to address the above-mentioned need, a method and apparatus forhanding over a mobile node from a source access point to a target accesspoint is provided herein. During operation the source access point willcreate handover messages on behalf of the mobile node. When the sourceaccess point detects that handover is taking place, the source accesspoint will transmit the appropriate handover message to the mobilenode's anchor node. Because the source access point may not have thenecessary security credentials to create messages on behalf of themobile node, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, themessages are created by the mobile node and stored at the source accesspoint until needed.

The present invention encompasses a method for facilitating handover.The method comprises the steps of determining by a source access pointthat a mobile node is handing over from the source access point to atarget access point, creating a message by the source access point,notifying the mobile node's anchor node of the handover, andtransmitting the message to the mobile node's anchor node; causing theanchor node to route the mobile node's traffic to the target accesspoint.

The present invention additionally encompasses a method for facilitatinghandover from a source access point to a target access point. The methodcomprises the steps of determining potential target access points,providing to a mobile node, information related to at least one of thepotential target access points, and receiving a plurality of handovermessages from the mobile node, wherein each handover message includesauthentication code generated with a shared secret key between themobile node and the home agent.

The present invention additionally encompasses a method for facilitatinghandover from a source access point to a target access point. The methodcomprising the steps of receiving a information about potential targetaccess points, creating at least one handover message indicating a careof address at the target access points, wherein the handover messageincludes an authentication code generated with a shared secret key, andtransmitting the at least one handover message to the source accesspoint.

Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate likecomponents, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of communication system 100. Asshown, communication system 100 comprises mobile node (MN) 104, anchornode 101, router 105, and a plurality of access points (only accesspoints 102. 106, and 109 are labeled). Mobile node 104 is attached to afirst point-of-presence element, or access point 102 through basestation 103. All base stations communicate with mobile node 104 via awireless connection using a carrier medium and protocol of choice. Forthese purposes the protocol may comprise an 802.16e-family protocol butthose skilled in the art will understand that essentially anycommunication protocol, either as presently exists or as is hereafterdeveloped, may also serve. Additionally, while only one anchor node,router and mobile node are shown in FIG. 1, one of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that a typical communication system will have manymore anchor nodes, routers, and mobile units than is shown in FIG. 1.Furthermore, although shown in FIG. 1 as separate entities, accesspoints and base stations may be collocated.

During operation communication between mobile node 104 and anchor node101 may utilize a security credential (such as a shared key) whentransmitting control information from the mobile node to the anchornode. The use of such a key may be needed in order for the communicationto be properly authenticated by the anchor node. Thus, when controlinformation (e.g., a CoA) is sent from the mobile node to the anchornode, the control information is properly hashed with a shared key tocreate a message authentication code that is added to the controlmessage.

As discussed above, in many cases network 100 may be designed toaccommodate mobile nodes that change their location from time to time.As a result, a given mobile node can change its point of presence withinnetwork 100. For example, mobile node 104 may be currently communicatingto correspondent node 108 utilizing an anchor node 101 through basestation 103, but may be traveling in the direction of base station 107.As mobile node 104 approaches base station 107, it will need to breakcommunication with base station 103 and continue communication withcorrespondent node 108 via anchor node 101 through base station 107.This will result in data being routed to the mobile node'scare-of-address, taking the data through anchor node 105, access point106, and base station 107.

As discussed, when moving between multiple points of presence, it isgenerally desired to make such a move in the least amount of timepossible (specifically, to enable packets to be delivered to the newpoint of presence of the mobile node as early as possible) to ensurecontinuous communication between the mobile node and its anchor node orhome agent and reduce the number of packets the need to be redirectedfrom the old BS to the new BS. In order to accomplish this task, in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention source base site router102 will itself register the new care of address with the anchor node101 on behalf of the mobile node. Once registered, anchor node 101 willforward all received data to the new care-of-address. In a firstembodiment, the base station and anchor node are configured with theright credentials (security key) to communicate directly (either the BShas the MN-HA key or the BS-Anchor node share a key themselves that canbe used to communicate on behalf of all MNs that may connect to BS anduse the services of AN). In a second embodiment, the MN-Anchor share akey that is not available to the BS. In this case the MN creates themessage and gives it to the BS ahead of time so that the BS can send itwhen needed, i.e. when the mobile node hands off or is about to do so.

It should be noted that devices sending data to mobile node 104 willcontinue to use the address of mobile node that is anchored at homeagent 101. This is because for local mobility within a domain (that istypically administratively defined with access point and anchor nodehaving a Security Association) the mobile node is completely hidden fromL3 mobility even as it moves across access points belonging to differentsubnets. This ensures that mobile nodes with a mobile IP stack don'tdetect movement and start mobile IP procedures.

When moving between access points under a single anchor the sourceaccess point (e.g. base station router 102) informs the anchor nodeabout the movement of node 104 to the target access point (e.g. basestation router 109). The source access point will be made aware of thenode's movement towards a new access point using well known techniques.In one embodiment this is done based on mobile node 104 periodicallyscanning for neighbors and reporting the received signal strength to thesource (i.e., the current serving base station). If a new access pointssignal is better received by mobile node 104 the serving base stationmay decide to initiate the hand over process. As part of the process thesource base station may determine (create/acquire) a new point ofcontact for mobile 104. This point of contact may be the IP address ofthe new base site, the MAC address of the new base site, or an IPaddress unique to the mobile in the subnet of the new base site. Whenthe source base station determines that the mobile node is indeedhanding over to the new (target) base station (for example based on thereceipt of a HO-IND or the action time field in base station-HO_REQmessage in the case of 802.16e), the source base station transmits amessage to the anchor node indicating the new point of contact for themobile. If the anchor node is a home agent, this message will take theform of a mobile IP registration message sent from the source basestation on behalf the mobile node. In other embodiments where the anchornode is an access router or a Ethernet switch this message may take theform of IPv6 neighbor advertisement message or an ARP (AddressResolution Protocol) message.

Once made aware of the new access point/base station, the anchor nodestarts tunneling or forwarding packets to the new location of mobilenode. The anchor node may do the redirection immediately or after adelay as specified or negotiated between the access point and the anchornode. The anchor node may also confirm the movement to the new accesspoint by signaling the new access point to confirm that node 104 hasindeed begun communication with it. After hearing from the anchor, ifthe new access point does not see the mobile node it will deregister themobile node. Alternately if the new BS does not register for the mobileafter a specified time out the anchor may stop forwarding packets to thenew base station. Additionally, if the mobile node were to move to anaccess point different from the originally decided access point, thenthe anchor node will start forwarding packets to the new access pointwhen it receives the current point of contact either directly from thenew base station or from the source base station.

The above steps are transparent to the mobile node and can be preformedin one of two ways. In a first embodiment, as long as the access pointhas the right security credentials (such as a shared key) the accesspoint will send the request to the anchor node on behalf of the mobilenode without any input from the mobile node. In other words, in order tocommunicate on behalf of mobile node 104, base stations may need to hashall communications with the shared secret key. In another embodiment ofthe present invention, when the anchor node itself does not have thecredentials to create the registration request on behalf of the mobilenode, the mobile node creates the message that it would have transmittedto facilitate handover and provides it to the access point. This iscached in the access point. When the access point determines that mobilenode is about to move to the new access point, it forwards the messageto the anchor node. The anchor node can validate the message as havingbeen sourced by the mobile node and start to redirect the packets to thenew access point.

To make the above system further transparent to the mobile node, as longas the mobile node is using the same anchor node, the set of Base sitesunder that anchor node provide consistent mobility related information.For example the router advertisements from the base site will carry thesame prefix that was assigned to the mobile node. If multiple mobilenodes with different prefixes are under a base site then the routeradvertisement may include all the different prefixes or the router advmay be unicast to each mobile node with the prefix being used by themobile node. The same source address may be used by set of base sitesunder the same anchor node so that the mobile node does not have tochange the default router. Finally a system may provide the mobile nodewith the same MAC address for all the base sites and enable each basesite proxy for that MAC address.

As with a node moving among access points under a single anchor, a nodemay move to an access point under another anchor node. The source accesspoint (base station) or source anchor node may be able to notify ahigher level anchor node or the home agent of the mobile node if it hasthe security key. However if the source access point does not have thesecurity key the following takes place:

-   -   When a mobile node moves, and there is a potential for anchor        change, the access point provides the mobile node with a set of        possible target anchors. The values in the IP Proxy Router        Advertisement message defined by IETF in “Low latency handoffs        for Mobile IP”, as part of Fast Mobile IP protocol, may be used        for this.    -   The mobile node then creates a binding update message (more than        one if there are multiple potential targets). The binding update        message is simply an update message typically sent from mobile        node to the home agent that has a mapping of mobile nodes home        address to care of address. As the access point does not have        the security key, then the mobile node can create the hashed        message (that it would have otherwise sent from the new access        point) and provide it to the source access point.    -   When the source access point determines that the mobile node has        left or the move is imminent, the source access point or the        source anchor node may send the message to the home agent.        Specifically, when the mobile node handoffs, the source access        point or source anchor node determines if there is an anchor        change. This determination, for instance, may be made by simply        accessing a neighbor list that has the neighbor base sites and        its preferred anchor or alternately, the base station can        contact the neighbor to determine if the neighbor's preferred        anchor node.    -   If the anchor node is sending the update, the base site will        provide the anchor node will the binding update message that was        created by the mobile. An access point may also pass on the        message to other access points as part of context transfer so        that mobile node does not have to provide the same message to        each access point.

FIG. 2 is a more-detailed block diagram of a mobile node and accesspoint. As shown, both access point 102 and mobile node 104 containtransmit and receive circuitry 201 and 206, and 202 and 207,respectively. Logic circuitry 203 and 208 is provided as a means tocontrol the operation of access point 102 and mobile node 104,respectively. Logic circuitry 203/208 preferably comprises amicroprocessor controller, such as, but not limited to a MotorolaPowerPC microprocessor. Transmit and receive circuitry 201/206 and202/207 are common circuitry known in the art for communicationutilizing a well known communication protocol, and serve as means fortransmitting and receiving messages. For example, all receivers andtransmitters use well-known over the air protocols such as Bluetooth,IEEE 802.11, 802.16e, or HyperLAN protocols.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of access point 102 duringnode handover. The logic flow in FIG. 3 assumes that access point 102has access to the security credentials required to communicate with theanchor node 101. The logic flow begins at step 301 where logic circuitry203 determines that the handoff of node 104 is imminent. As discussedabove, this determination may be from reported signal strengthmeasurements of surrounding access points (received by receiver 202),and the determination that another access point has a better signalstrength than access point 102. At step 303 a new point ofcontact/address is determined by logic circuitry 203. As discussed, thepoint of contact may be the IP address of the new base site, the MACaddress of the new base site, or an IP address unique to the mobile inthe subnet of the new base site. After the point of contact isdetermined, the logic flow continues to step 305 where the source accesspoint determines that node 104 is handing off to the target accesspoint. The logic flow then continues to step 307 where logic circuitry203 instructs transmitter 201 to transmit a message to the anchor nodeindicating the new point of contact for the mobile. This causes theanchor node to route the mobile node's traffic to the target accesspoint. As discussed, the message may be hashed with the shared-secretkey shared between node 104 and its anchor node. This procedure is usedfor authenticating messages. Additionally, if the anchor node is a homeagent, this message will take the form of a mobile IP registrationmessage sent from the source access point on behalf the mobile node.

It should be noted that while the above logic flow had the handoffmessage being transmitted to the anchor node in anticipation of handoff,in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the source accesspoint may wait until the mobile node has left the source access point(i.e., ceased communication with the source access point) to transmitthe handoff message.

Because the point of contact is transmitted to the anchor node byserving access point 102 instead of node 104 or the target access point,the point of contact can be communicated to the anchor node in a quickermanner than in prior art systems. This helps ensure a continuousuninterrupted communication between the mobile node and its anchor nodeor home agent

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of access point 102 duringnode handover. The logic flow in FIG. 4 assumes that access point 102does not have access to the shared secret key that node 104 utilizes incommunication with its home agent. The logic flow begins at step 401where logic circuitry 203 accesses neighbor list 204 and determinespotential target anchor nodes that node 104 may utilize when roamingfrom access point 102. At step 403 this list is provided to node 104. Inresponse, receiver 202 receives handoff messages for each potentialcandidate access point. Each handover message includes authenticationcode generated with a shared secret key between the mobile node and thehome agent. More particularly, since access point 102 does not have thesecurity key, node 104 must create the handover messages with themessage authentication code to be provided to the home agent. Thesemessages are received and stored in buffer 205 at step 405. The logicflow continues to step 407 where logic circuitry 203 determines thatnode 104 is handing off to a target access point, and determines theidentity of the particular target access point (step 409). The identityof the target access point may determined by analyzing signal strengthmeasurements reported by node 104, and assuming that node 104 is handingover to the access point with the greatest signal strength. In a IEEE802.16e system for example, it may also be obtained by inspectingmessages such as the BS_HO-REQ (Base Site Handover request, MS_HO_REQ(Mobile HO request) or the HO-IND (Handover indication) message.

The logic flow continues to step 410 where the determination as towhether the buffered message needs to be passed on to the anchor node(home agent) of the mobile node. This determination is done based onwhether the mobile nodes movement would require a change in the care ofaddress of the node there by making necessary a message to an anchornode with which only the mobile node and not the access point has asecurity association (e.g. the home agent of the mobile node). If such amessage is required the flow continues to step 411 where buffer 205 isaccessed and the appropriate handover message is provided to the anchornode. The message indicates the new care-of address and may include atleast a prefix corresponding to a subnet of an anchor node serving thetarget access point.

As discussed, if the anchor node is a home agent, this message will takethe form of a mobile IP registration message sent from the source accesspoint on behalf the mobile node. If the movement to a neighboring accesspoint does not involve a change in anchor node then the message is notsent to the home agent. Instead this may be optionally passed on to thetarget access point to which the mobile has moved. Well know contexttransfer schemes can be used for passing on these messages. This wouldenable the target access point send the message at a later time ifneeded without obtaining it directly from the mobile node.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing operation of mobile node 104. The logicflow in FIG. 4 assumes that access points do not have access to thesecurity key that is used in communication between node 104 and its homeagent. The logic flow begins at step 501 where receiver 207 receivesinformation about potential target access points that are capable ofcommunicating with mobile node 104 from a currently serving accesspoint. At step 503 logic circuitry 208 creates at least one handoffmessage that includes the message authentication code created with asecurity key. The handoff message indicates a care-of address at thetarget access points and an authentication code generated with theshared secret key. As discussed, there will be a single message createdcorresponding to the potential care of address that may be obtained atthe target base stations. Note that in some target base sites, where thesame anchor can be used, a new CoA would not be needed. Further more ifthere are multiple potential CoAs then a message corresponding to eachCoA can be created. Alternately a single message may be created. Thesource access point may later use the actual CoA as the source addressof the IP packet, there by enabling the Home Agent (that implements NAT(Network Address Translation) travel algorithm) to use the sourceaddress as the real Care of address. At step 505 these messages aretransmitted to access point 102 via transmitter 206. As discussed accesspoint 102 will utilize these messages when it senses that node 104 ishanding over to a new access point. These messages will be stored inbuffer 205 until needed.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Itis intended that such changes come within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A method for facilitating handover, the method comprising the stepsof: determining by a source access point that a mobile node is handingover from the source access point to a target access point; creating amessage by the source access point, notifying the mobile node's anchornode of the handover; and transmitting the message to the mobile node'sanchor node; causing the anchor node to route the mobile node's trafficto the target access point.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofcreating the message comprises the step of creating a message utilizinga shared secret key, wherein the shared secret key is used by the anchornode at least for authenticating messages that map the mobile node'saddress to a current point of presence
 3. The method of claim 1 whereinthe step of determining that the mobile node is handing over comprisesthe step of analyzing a received signal strength reported by the mobilenode.
 4. The method of claim 1 where in the message is transmitted tothe anchor node in anticipation of a handoff.
 5. The method of claim 1where in the message is transmitted to the anchor node after the mobilehas left the source access point.
 6. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising the steps of: sending out an advertisement message containinga same prefix assigned to the mobile node.
 7. A method for facilitatinghandover from a source access point to a target access point, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving information about potential targetaccess points; creating at an access point at least one handover messageindicating a care of address at the target access points, wherein thehandover message includes an authentication code generated with a sharedsecret key; and transmitting the at least one handover message to theanchor node.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the handover messages willbe stored at the source access point and utilized by the source accesspoint to facilitate handover from the source access point to the targetaccess point.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the access pointcomprises a source access point.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein theaccess point comprises a target access point.